Dispenser for products packaged in collapsible tubes



Feb. 26, 1952 MERULLQ 2,587,191

DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS PACKAGED IN COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed March 24, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Inna-afar: Walazui Z2. flk'mllo Feb. 26, 1952 vR MERULLQ DISPENSER FOR PRQDUCTS PACKAGED IN COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 SHEETS-Q-SHEET 2 Filed March 24/ 1948- 1/ Ibveubr:

@aiaud 4 2. Memlla "and closed positions.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "DISPENSER-"FORPRODUCTSPACKAGED 1N "--'COLLAPSIBLEH'TUBES- =Roland- A..-Mer'ullo, Revere, Mass.

ApplicationMarch '24, 1948, Serial No. 16,818

9 Claims. 222-:103)

Mypresent invention-relates todispensers for products packaged in collapsible tubes havin outlet tips closed by caps threaded thereon.

Such tubes-are, iii-general, a convenientway of packaging various products of Whi'chtooth paste is perhaps the best example. The objectime to their use are that the caps' are'frequently'lostor are not replace'd with'theresult that .some of the contents deteriorate and is wasted,

that 1 when a tube-issque'ezed toflexpel its con- I tents, more than is needed is commonly discharged, and that the average user does not fully exhaust the contents oi-the tube before it is discarded.

Inaccordancewit-h myinvention, I- provi de a "dispenser'for products packaged in' suc'h collapsi- -ble tubes that consists of-a housinghav-ing -a, tube receiving chamber op'en'at one endand provided withmeans to exert-a collapsing pressure'on'a "tube in that chamber thereby to-'-expel its con- -tents through its threaded outlet tip. Connected to the housing adjacent the open end of 'the chamber is a support to which is attached a gate for-movement relative thereto between open 7 I provide a'member adapt- "ed to beconnected to the tipsof "the tube and that-member is heldby the-support to maintain it in operation relative to the gate. I prefer that the member be movable relativetoits support in "a direction transversely of the tube axis-so that the-tip may move along a'pathway under the influence of the tube collapsing means thereby to ensure that the tube contents maybe mores'come pletely exhausted than is'the case if the tube "tip is rigidly held. This is'also necessary to enable f different'size'd tubes to' be used'-efiiciently in the same dispenser and to ensure that' they "are properly positioned therein. 'For that reason, the

*aperture in the gate through which the tube-c0n tentsflow in the open position of the gate is in the form of' a slot sothat the'tip may register therewith in any of its positions. along its pathway.

In the drawings I have'shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention from which'these adispenser particularly adapted .for usewith toothpaste packaged in a collapsible tube lfl'having a'threa'ded outlet .tip Ii i The dispenser'shown in the .drawings'consists of 'a housing'lz having: an open-endedrchamber L3 and-a back wall M with "reference to which .thelhousing i2 .is so located that endtportions i5 and t6 'ofthe back wall are eXposed for-Jconvenience in attaching :the dispenserito any suitable supporting surface. The front portion I5 is preferablysoshapechas inclicatedtin Fig. 1, that it is I concealed by the detachable .closure,igenerally indicated'at I], for the open end of the chamber i3 andhasca singlezcountersunkhole 18 to ireceive an attachingscrew. The rearz'portion it Q isshown a's of substantial length andis divided by a horizontalrib Iii-spaced an equal distance from the top and bottom edges thereof and: ex-

tendin'gacross the rear end .of the housing 12.

I "provide the rib "[9 with: a 'plurality'o'f apertures 20 dimensioned 'to receive tooth brush handles "and 'on each side of it is a countersunk hole l3 for other attaching means.

' While the tube collapsing means maybe :ofrany type,;I*have:shown such as comprisingfa pressure plate 2! 'withinthe chamber [3 and :of substantially the same length as the largest tube that may 'be used in the dispenserxTheplate 2 I has a vbearing 22 engageable by the handledJstem'Z3 threaded through the housing I2 50 that-as it is rotated in one direction or "the other, the plate 2I is forced .intoxoriout of 'contactwith'the tube iback'wa'll' I 4 of'th'e dispenser.

Preferably, theJstem .23 is parallel to the 'The'dispenser may The attached to a 'suitable *supportingrsurface with the stem'23 .in an'u'pright or in 1a dependirg position" and it is proportioned "to be equallyrattractive and equally serviceabl "in 26-:towhich. a second annular shell, generally in- :either :position as may be desired bypreference or required "by the locationof the wash bowl, cabinetaor other fixtures.

, The closure consists of a firstiannularshell 24 secured atone end to the housing l2 as bye bayonet jointrindicatediathfi and ha'ving, at its other-end, aniinwardlydisposed annular flange dicated at 21, is secured by' bolts'28 having their heads'reoncealedbythefirst shell 24. The second :shell 21 "hasanroutlet port 29 and establishes a chamber 30 in'which :I mount an element 3| for .zmovementrelative thereto transversely of the outlet port129' and having an -aperturethreaded to 'receivezthetip II of "the tube I0. .I pivotally mount a gate 32 within the chamber 30 and hav- ;ingsanzactuatinghimr33extending through a slot the tip II is screwed into the element 3|.

34 in the periphery of the second shell 21 so that it may be moved from a first or closed position into a second or open position.

In practice, the second shell consists, as may be best seen in Fig. 2, of a disc 35, an end wall 33, and a ring 31 which constitutes a spacer so that the length of the chamber 30 is such as to accommodate the gate 32 and the element 3| for which the disc 35 constitutes a seat as it moves relative thereto and maintains it in contact with the gate 32. Preferably, the inner edges of the disc 35 and the flange 26 are beveled and dimensioned so that together they define a tapered port for the chamber 30 having its larger end disposed towards the chamber l3 and the outlet port 29 is oppositely tapered.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the gate 32 is pivotally supported as at 38 between the spacer 31 and the end wall 36 and the adjacent faces of the end wall 36 and the spacer 3'! are formed with complemental marginal shoulders 39 of sufficient length to define a major are so that on assembly, the peripheral slot 34 is established. The bolts 28 extend freely through the disc 35 and the shoulder 39 of the spacer 31 and are threaded into the shoulder 39 of the end wall 36. As such adjacent faces are similar, I have shown only that of the spacer 3'! which may be seen in Fig. 4.

As will be apparent from Fig. 4, the gate 32 in its closed position has its actuating arm 33 yieldably seated against one end of the slot 34 by the spring 49 attached at one end to the gate 32 and at its other end to the spacer 31.

As a dispenser in accordance with my invention is used, the tube collapsing means are actuated to exert pressure on the tube H) to expel its contents through its tip normally blocked by the gate 32. As the tube I is collapsed further, the tip l is free to move in the direction of the pressure applied to the tube since it is attached to the element 3| which is movable relative to the second shell. This ensures that the tube contents :may be much more completely exhausted. than would be the case if the tip were rigidly secured to the closure l8.

For that reason, the port 4| in the gate 32, which in the second position of the gate effects communication between the tube tip II and the outlet port 29, is in the form of a slot which registers in that second position with any position of the tip H as it moves along a pathway under the influence of the tube collapsing means.

In use, the closure I! is removed as a unit and The tube I0 is then inserted into the chamber l3 so that its end 42 is in parallel with the'pressure plate 2| and the closure I1 is replaced. Because of the fact that the element 3| is movable relative to the closure I1, the position of the tube willnot be affected by the attachment of the closure H to the housing l2 and this same fact ensures proper operation even if the tube H] is not inserted properly into the chamber I3. 'The handled stem 23 is then rotated to bring the pressure plate 2| into contact with the tube ID to exert sufiicient pressure thereon to cause some of its contents to be expelled when the gate 32 is moved by the user into its open position. While witha smaller tube it is necessary to rotate the stem "23 to a greater extent, its tip H is properly p0- sitioned because of the fact that the element 3| is movable relative to the closure l7.

Once a tube I0 is thus attached to a dispenser in accordance with my invention, it is only necessary for the user to move the gate 3| into its open position and the tube contents will flow out for his use until he releases the gate 3| so that it may be closed by the spring 40. With the tube collapsing means shown in the drawings, it is, of course, necessary for the user to turn the stem 23 from time to time to maintain pressure on the tube l0. When the tube I0 is emptied, the closure I1 is removed and the flattened tube H! is then detached from the element 3|. Before a new tube is attached, the closure may be rinsed in hot water to clean it.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that dispensers in accordance with my invention are of simple construction and adapted to enable products packaged in collapsible tubes to be used with increased convenience and economy.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for tooth paste, shaving cream, or a like product packaged in a collapsible tube having a threaded outlet tip, said dispenser comprising a housing having a tube receiving chamber open at one end, means operable by the user and attached to said housing to exert collapsing pressure on a tube in said chamber, and means to close the open end of said chamber, said means including a support connected to said housing adjacent the open end of said chamber, a member having a threaded aperture for attachment to said tip end and a connection between said member and said support to enable said member to move transversely relative thereto to enable said tip to move along a pathway as its tube is collapsed by said means, and a gate to move relative to said member between a first position in which it blocks the flow of tube contents into a second position in which said flow is unblocked.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the member and support are rotatable relative to each other.

3. A dispenser for tooth paste, shaving cream or a like product packaged in a collapsible tube having a threaded outlet tip, said dispenser comprising a housing having a tube receiving chamber open at one end, means operable by the user and attached to said housing to exert a collapsing pressure on a tube in said chamber, a closure for the open end of said chamber detachably connected to said housing, said closure including an end wall having an outlet port, a member having an aperture threaded for attachment to said tip and being slidably supported by said closure for movement relative thereto to enable said tip to move along a pathway as its tube is collapsed by said means, and a gate supported by said closure for movement relative to said member between a first position in which it blocks the flow of tube contents through said outlet port and a second position and having a slot which in said second position registers with any position of said tip along its pathway, and said outlet port being dimensioned so that the entire length of said slot is in communication therewith in the second position of said gate.

4. A dispenser for tooth paste, shaving cream, or like products packaged in a collapsible. tube having a threaded outlet tip, said dispenser comprising a housing having a tube receiving cham- :ber open at one end, means operable by the user said housing and including an inwardly disposed annular flange, a second shell secured to said flange and including an end wall having an outlet port and spaced from said flange to establish a chamber, a member within said chamber and having a threaded aperture for attachment to said tip and being dimensioned so that it is movable transversely a predetermined distance relative to said end wall to enable said tip to move along a pathway as its tube is collapsed by said means, and a gate including an operating arm, said gate being pivotally mounted in said second shell to swing from a first position in which the flow of tube contents through said port is blocked into a second position and having a slot which in said second position registers with said outlet and with said tip in any of its position along said pathway, and said second shell having a slot through which said gate operating arm extends.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 and bolts extending through the flange of the first shell are threaded into the second shell to provide a concealed connection therebetween.

6. A dispenser for tooth paste, shaving cream, or like product packaged in a collapsible tube having a threaded outlet tip, said dispenser comprising a housing having a tube receiving chamber open at one end, means operable by the user and attached to said housing to exert collapsing pressure on a tube in said chamber, a closure for the open end of said chamber detachably connected to said housing, said closure having an outlet port, and including a member having a threaded passage into which the tip of the tube is to be threaded, means connecting said member to said closure for movement transversely of said port as said tube is collapsed and a gate disposed between said outlet port and said member and operable by the user between open and closed positions.

7. A dispenser for tooth paste, shaving cream or like products packaged in a collapsible tube having a threaded outlet tip, said dispenser comprising a housing having a tube receiving chamber open at one end, means operable by the user and attached to said housing to exert a collapsing pressure on a tube in said chamber, and a closure for the open end of said chamber, said closure comprising a first shell deta-chably connected to said housing and including an inwardly disposed annular flange, a second shell connected to said flange and comprising a disc, an end wall having an outlet port and a spacer between said disc and end wall establishing a chamber, a member in said chamber having a passage therethrough threaded for attachment to said tip and retained in said chamber by said disc but movable relative thereto to enable said tip to move along a pathway under the influence of said collapsing means, and a gate pivotally mounted in said chamber for movement between a first position in which the flow of tube contents through said outlet port is blocked and a second position and having a slot which in said second position efiects communication between said tip and said outlet port in any position of said tip along said pathway, said second shell having a slot in its periphery and said gate including an arm extending outwardly through said peripheral slot.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 in which the gate is pivotally connected between the spacer and the end wall of the second shell and the adjacent faces of the spacer and end wall have marginal ribs engageable on assembly to establish the peripheral slot.

9. The dispenser of claim 7 in which bolts extend through the flange of the first shell, the discl, and spacer and are threaded into the end wal ROLAND A. MERULLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,275 Roach Oct. 28, 1919 1,715,335 Cocks May 28, 1929 1,754,084 Cornelius Apr. 8, 1930 1,805,420 Schweer May 12, 1931 2,202,653 Glidden May 28, 1940 

